Automatic feeder for mills



Aug. 12, 1930. J M R 1,772,874

AUTOMATIC 'FEEDER FOR MILLS Filed July 9, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

Aug. 12, 1930. YER 1,772,874

AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR MILLS Filed July 9 192g 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES HENRY J. MEYER, OF WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN, AS SIGNOR T WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN PATENT OFFICE- I. B- nowELL eager AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR MILLS Application filed July 9,

This invention relates to an automatic feeder for mills, such as mills adapted to operate upon grain, or other similar material.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of feeding device which is associated with the hopper and with a slot through which the material is fed to the mill, and which is so constructed that it will shift the material back and forth across the slot 0 so as to insure a uniform and automatic feeding of the material to the mill.

Further objects are to provide a construction in which a hopper is formed as a unitary member with the cover to the mill, in which provision is made for adjusting the slot to any desired width, and in which the feeding means cooperates with the slot, irrespective of variations in its width due to adjustment.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the mill with the device in place;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a hammer type mill has been illustrated as provided with a cover formed of side plates 1 and curved transverse members 2 and 3. The members 2 and 3 are spaced apart to form a slot 4 through which the material is fed. The side plates 1 are secured together by means of tie bolts 5, or, in any other suitable manner. Preferably, an intermediate spacing member 6 is provided immediately above the upper portion of the member 2, as shown in Figure 1. p

The side plates 1 are provided with inwardly bulged portions 7, which, as may be seen from Figure 2, merge into the inner walls of the side plates and form a somewhat constricted throat. Further, the side plates are provided with grooves 8 (see Figure 1) within which are carried the opposite edges of an adjusting slide. This adjusting slide is formed from plate material and has a downturned outer flange 10 within which is $0 swivelled the inner end of the adjustin 1928. Serial No. 291,208.

screw 11. The adjusting screw 11 is threaded through the transverse strap 12 carried by suitable arms 13, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. This screw may be pro-' vided with a crank or hand wheel whereby it may be readily operated.

The side plates 1 are provided with outwa'rdly divergent upper portions 14. to which a hopper 15 is secured. This hopper is adapt ed to contain the grain or other material and is provided with a bulged hollow portion 16 in one of its walls. 1

lVithin this bulged portion, which is also arranged adjacent the inwardly projecting portion 7 of the side plates, a hub 17 j(see Figures 1 and-2) is positioned and is can ried by a shaft 18 extending through the hopper. This hub is provided with diametrically opposed arms 19 (see Figure 3). These arms extend radially from the hub and are oppositely slanted and axially-spaced from each other. Any suitable means, such as thepulley 20, may be employed for rotating the shaft 18.

In operation, it will be seen that the width of the slot 14 may be adjusted by'means of the slide 9 to the desired width and consequently the feed may be accurately controlled as'required. Further, as the shaft 18 rotates, the arms 19 alternately engage the material adjacent opposite ends of the slot and due to their reverse slanting arrangement, shift the material back and forth longitudinally of the slot and thus insure a uniform and regular feed of the material without any possibility of clogging.

It is to be noted particularly that only one 7 in the manner 311st" described,

has been found that by positioning the parts 1 that clogging of the slot is wholly avoided. It is believed that the freedom from clogging obtained by the construction described and illustrated is due to the fact that the agitator extends over the slot :1, sufiicient distance to keep the material agitated at the slot, but that it does not extend over the slot a sufiicient distance to shield or cause a clogging of the slot.

Further, it is to be noted that an air inlet Pa i rp ori e r etwe n t e members 6 "Bria 9 and that the air flows in, in the direction shown by the arrows and causes a uniform distribution of the fed material as it entersthe mill.-

-"It will be seen that a very simple, selfcontainedfeeding unit has been provided for mills,- which may be cheaply constructed and which will prevent clogging and insure a uniform, steady feed.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

In a mill of the character described, the combination of a pair of side plates, transverse members extending between the side plates with their opposed edges spaced apart to form a slot, a hopper mounted above said transverse members and contracting towards said slot, an intermediate spacing member between the lower end of the hopper and one of said transverse members, an inclined movable slide at the lower end of the hopper for regulating the width of said slot, an adjusting screw connected to the outer end of said slide for imparting movement to the same, means for supporting said adjusting screw adjacent the hopper, said hopper having a lateral bowed semi-hollow portion, a shaft co-axial with the hollow portion and mounted with its center over the rear edge of said slot, a hub carried by the shaft and radially projecting arms formed on said hub.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at VVaukesha, in the county of Waukesha and State of Visconsin.

HENRY J. MEYER. 

